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Installing a built-up cornice
A
built-up molding is a good way to create an elaborate ceiling molding
without paying a small fortune for a custom made pieces. On this job, we
started with a backer board that supports much of what comes later. We
covered this with a soffit board and added a frieze under the soffit.
Then a cornice was nailed between the frieze and soffit, and a fascia
was nailed to the front of the soffit and backer. We finished up by
installing a bed molding along the top edge and a cove molding along the
bottom.
Ceiling - wood
planking
In theory you can use any type of
wood plank on a ceiling, including shiplap and other types that are normally
used for exterior siding. But those materials generally are 3/4 inch thick,
which is not only unnecessary on a ceiling but also a disadvantage due to
the weight.
Ceiling - Building
and using a deadman brace
Installing drywall is usually a two-person job. To have help carrying and
lifting the panels makes the work a lot easier. But help is not al ways
around when you need it. Fortunately, you can work alone with the help of
two common devices. The first is a rented drywall lift that costs about $50
a day. With this hand-powered tool you can install panels on ceilings and
walls by yourself.
Installing a
ceiling medallion
Plastic ceiling medallions are lightweight, easy to install, and look
exactly like traditional plaster medallions once they are painted.
Medallions are available in different sizes and patterns. Some are even
designed to allow a chandelier chain to fit through a center hole.
Framing a ceiling
opening
There
are several common reasons for cutting a hole in a ceiling. One is to
change the location of an attic access hole to a more convenient spot.
Another is to install a folding attic stairway. And still another is to
install a whole fan. Although this job can seem intimidating, it usually
boils down to just cut ting out a section of drywall and part of one
joist. Headers are installed at both ends of the cut joist to support
the weight. And the opening is framed in to fit the size required by
what’s being installed.
Installing a false
ceiling beam
False beams can be installed on a
ceiling for A a number of different reasons. You may simply like the way
they look. You may want to hide something like a plumbing pipe that is
hanging below the ceiling. And you may want to disguise a particularly poor
ceiling, instead of tearing it down and starting over. The beam itself is
easy to make. just glue and nail three boards together. Installing it isn’t
much harder. Just attach a nailing board to the ceiling and hang the beam
from this board.
Installing a
suspended ceiling
Most suspended ceiling
systems include four components. The first are the L-shaped metal edge
strips that are installed on the perimeter of the room. The second are
the T-shaped metal main runners that rest on the edge strips and are
aligned perpendicular to the joists. The third are the metal crosspiece
that are hooked between the main runners. And the fourth are the
acoustical ceiling panels that are supported by the metal structure. A
variety of designs are available for both the framework and the panels.
Installing a tin
ceiling
Tin ceilings are making a
comeback these days, about 100 years after their widespread popularity at
the turn of the twentieth century. Many of the patterns available today are
exact reproductions of original designs. These panels can be installed
directly on the surface of a flat ceiling, if 3/8 in-thick plywood is
installed first. But if the ceiling isn’t flat, or if it’s dam aged, install
furring strips and shim them until they are flat. Then attach the tiles to
the furring.
Installing a wood
cornice
Adding a cornice molding to the joint between walls and ceilings is a good
way to add a touch of elegance to a room without spending a lot of money or
time. There are a number of different stock design profiles available at
your local lumberyard or home center.
Installing a
plastic cornice
Plastic (usually polystyrene) molding is a material choice that appeals to
many do-it-yourselfers. It comes in a variety of shapes that mimic
traditional plaster molding. These “boards” are very light, so they are easy
to transport and install.
Installing a
wood-paneled ceiling
Installing lightweight boards
to a ceiling is not difficult work. But it can be time-consuming for a
couple of reasons. First, nothing goes quickly when you are working over
your head. It’s just an uncomfortable working position. And second, most
boards are relatively narrow, only 3 or 4 inches wide, so it just takes
a long time to cover a ceiling in such small increments. Because all the
butt joints between boards must fall on a ceiling joist or rafter, it’s
a good idea to snap chalk lines that mark the location of these members
before you start nailing boards in place.
Installing framing
for a skylight
Adding a skylight to your roof
and building the light shaft below it is a difficult job. The most
nerve-racking part, of course, is cutting the hole in your roof and getting
the window installed before it starts to rain (or snow). For this reason,
first assemble all the materials and tools you’ll need. Then wait for a good
weather report for the next few days. Concentrate on cutting the hole and
installing the window in one day. If you don’t make it, cover the hole with
a tarp for the night; then do everything you can to make the roof weather
tight the next day. |
